Mourt's Relation
Encyclopedia
The book Mourt's Relation (full title: A Relation or Journal of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England) was written primarily by Edward Winslow
, although William Bradford
appears to have written most of the first section. Written between November 1620 and November 1621, it describes in detail what happened from the landing of the Mayflower
Pilgrims
inside the fishhook tip of Cape Cod
(became Provincetown Harbor
), through their exploring and eventual settling of Plymouth Colony
; the book describes their relations with the surrounding native Indians
, up to the First Thanksgiving
and the arrival of the ship Fortune in November 1621. Mourt's Relation was first published in London
in 1622, presumably by George Morton
, sometimes called George Mourt (hence the title "Mourt's Relation"). The purpose of Mourt's Relation was clear: to paint the new settlement in the brightest possible hues.
An English Puritan Separatist who had moved to Leiden, Holland, Morton stayed behind when the first settlers left for Plymouth, Massachusetts, but he continued to orchestrate business affairs in Europe and London for their cause -- presumably arranging for the publication of and perhaps helping write Mourt's Relation. In 1623 Morton himself emigrated to the Plymouth Colony with his wife Juliana, the sister of Governor William Bradford's wife Alice. But George Morton didn't survive long in the New World: he died the following year, in 1624.
George Morton's son Nathaniel Morton
became the clerk of Plymouth Colony, a close adviser to his uncle Governor William Bradford, who raised him after the death of his father, and the author of an influential early history of the Plymouth Colony, "New England's Memorial." (In a tradition at The Wall Street Journal
, the newspaper has run for four decades a portion of Nathaniel Morton's book, its observation of the first Thanksgiving, on the Wednesday before the holiday.)
A Relation or Journall of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England, by Certaine English Adventurers Both Merchants and Others. With Their Difficult Passage, Their Safe Arivall, Their Joyfull Building of, and Comfortable Planting Themselves in the Now Well Defended Towne of New Plimoth. As Also a Relation of Foure Severall Discoveries Since Made by Some of the Same English Planters There Resident. I. In a Journey to Puckanokick the Habitation of the Indian Greatest King Massasoyt: As Also Their Suffrage, the Answer and Entertainment They Had of Him. II. In a Voyage Made by Ten of Them to the Kingdome of Nawset, to Seeke a Boy That Had Left Himselfe in the Woods: With Such Accidents as Befell Them in That Voyage. III. In Their Journey to the Kingdome of Namasinet, In Defense of Their Greatest King Massasoyt, Against the Narrohiggonsets, and to Revenge the Supposed Death of Their Interpreter Tisquantum. IIII. Their Voyage to the Massachusets, and Their Entertainment There. With an Answer to All Such Objections as Are Any Way Made Against the Lawfulnesse of English Plantations in Those Parts.
Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
, although William Bradford
William Bradford (1590-1657)
William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal was published as Of Plymouth Plantation...
appears to have written most of the first section. Written between November 1620 and November 1621, it describes in detail what happened from the landing of the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
Pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
inside the fishhook tip of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
(became Provincetown Harbor
Provincetown Harbor
Provincetown Harbor is a large natural harbor located in the town of Provincetown, Massachusetts. The harbor is mostly 30 to deep and stretches roughly one mile from northwest to southeast and two miles from northeast to southwest, i.e., one large, deep bowl with no dredged channel necessary for...
), through their exploring and eventual settling of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
; the book describes their relations with the surrounding native Indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, up to the First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
and the arrival of the ship Fortune in November 1621. Mourt's Relation was first published in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1622, presumably by George Morton
George Morton (pilgrim father)
George Morton or George Mourt was an English Puritan Separatist. He was the publisher of, and perhaps helped write, the first account in Great Britain of the founding of Plymouth Colony, called Mourt's Relation.-Biography:...
, sometimes called George Mourt (hence the title "Mourt's Relation"). The purpose of Mourt's Relation was clear: to paint the new settlement in the brightest possible hues.
An English Puritan Separatist who had moved to Leiden, Holland, Morton stayed behind when the first settlers left for Plymouth, Massachusetts, but he continued to orchestrate business affairs in Europe and London for their cause -- presumably arranging for the publication of and perhaps helping write Mourt's Relation. In 1623 Morton himself emigrated to the Plymouth Colony with his wife Juliana, the sister of Governor William Bradford's wife Alice. But George Morton didn't survive long in the New World: he died the following year, in 1624.
George Morton's son Nathaniel Morton
Nathaniel Morton
Capt. Nathaniel Morton was a Separatist settler of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, where he served for most of his life as Plymouth's secretary under his uncle, Governor William Bradford...
became the clerk of Plymouth Colony, a close adviser to his uncle Governor William Bradford, who raised him after the death of his father, and the author of an influential early history of the Plymouth Colony, "New England's Memorial." (In a tradition at The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, the newspaper has run for four decades a portion of Nathaniel Morton's book, its observation of the first Thanksgiving, on the Wednesday before the holiday.)
Full Title
The full title of the book, according to MLA capitalization standards is:A Relation or Journall of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England, by Certaine English Adventurers Both Merchants and Others. With Their Difficult Passage, Their Safe Arivall, Their Joyfull Building of, and Comfortable Planting Themselves in the Now Well Defended Towne of New Plimoth. As Also a Relation of Foure Severall Discoveries Since Made by Some of the Same English Planters There Resident. I. In a Journey to Puckanokick the Habitation of the Indian Greatest King Massasoyt: As Also Their Suffrage, the Answer and Entertainment They Had of Him. II. In a Voyage Made by Ten of Them to the Kingdome of Nawset, to Seeke a Boy That Had Left Himselfe in the Woods: With Such Accidents as Befell Them in That Voyage. III. In Their Journey to the Kingdome of Namasinet, In Defense of Their Greatest King Massasoyt, Against the Narrohiggonsets, and to Revenge the Supposed Death of Their Interpreter Tisquantum. IIII. Their Voyage to the Massachusets, and Their Entertainment There. With an Answer to All Such Objections as Are Any Way Made Against the Lawfulnesse of English Plantations in Those Parts.
External links
- Mourt's Relation as transcribed by Caleb Johnson
- Mourt's Relation as transcribed by Caleb Johnson